GITEX 2026 at Expo City Dubai: Dates, Venue, What to Expect
GITEX GLOBAL 2026 moves to Expo City Dubai after 45 years at DWTC: 7-11 December dates, the Scale Summit, 200,000+ attendees expected, tickets, metro access and where to stay.
GITEX 2026 at Expo City Dubai: Dates, Venue, What to Expect
After 45 years at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the world’s biggest tech show is moving. GITEX GLOBAL 2026 runs 7–11 December at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai — new home, new dates, and by every published measure the largest edition yet. Here is everything confirmed so far, and what the move actually means if you are attending.
GITEX GLOBAL 2026 at a glance
- Dates: 7–11 December 2026 — 7 December is the leadership–focused GITEX Scale Summit; the main exhibition runs 8–11 December
- New venue: Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai — the first GITEX outside the World Trade Centre in the event’s history
- Scale expected: more than 200,000 attendees from 180+ countries, around 6,800 exhibitors and 400+ government entities
- Why December: the shift from the traditional October slot aligns the show with Dubai’s peak season
- Tickets: register at gitex.com to be notified when sales open — last edition’s visitor pass started around AED 580, and 2026 pricing had not been published at the time of writing
Why the Move Matters
The World Trade Centre hosted GITEX from its first edition — the show and the venue grew up together. The move to Expo City is not just a bigger hall: it relocates the entire event to Dubai’s south corridor, next to Al Maktoum International Airport and the Expo Road spine, on the site built for Expo 2020.
Practically, that changes three things for visitors:
- Getting there: Expo City has its own Route 2020 metro station on the Red Line — the metro is the sane option, exactly as it was for Expo 2020
- Where to stay: the hotel cluster around DWTC and Sheikh Zayed Road is no longer on the doorstep — Dubai South, Expo City’s own hotels, and the Marina/JLT corridor become the practical bases
- The season: December is peak Dubai — perfect weather, and peak pricing for rooms. Book early; the week will be crowded
What to Expect at the Show
- 7 December — GITEX Scale Summit: a leadership day on AI economies and policy, ahead of the main floor
- 8–11 December — the exhibition: the full sprawl — AI, cyber security, cloud, fintech, mobility and the startup wing that has grown into its own ecosystem
- Who attends: the published figures — 6,800 exhibiting companies and delegations from 180+ countries — make it the largest tech gathering anywhere that week
If your work touches AI, this is the room. Dubai’s own push — from the One Million Prompters programme to the government’s AI adoption blueprint — will be on full display.
Practical Planning
- Register early at gitex.com — badge prices historically rise closer to the show
- Stay near the Red Line if Expo City hotels are full — Marina, JLT and Dubai South all connect by metro
- Budget December rates: peak–season Dubai pricing applies to everything from rooms to restaurants — our cost of living guide gives the baseline numbers
- Flying in via Al Maktoum (DWC): the new venue is minutes away — worth checking before defaulting to DXB
The Property Angle, Briefly
Event weeks of this size move the short–stay market around the venue — and December was already peak season before GITEX joined it. For owners near Expo City, Dubai South and the Route 2020 corridor, that is a demand spike worth planning for; for investors, it is one more datapoint in the south corridor’s long–term story alongside the airport expansion. Our off–plan roundup covers what is currently launching.
Own a property near Expo City — or want to?
Rich Property is a RERA–registered brokerage in The Opus Tower, Business Bay. We can tell you honestly what units near the Route 2020 corridor rent for — long lets and event–season short lets — and what the licensing rules require before you list a holiday home.
Browse Dubai PropertiesFAQ - GITEX GLOBAL 2026
When is GITEX 2026?
7–11 December 2026. The opening day hosts the GITEX Scale Summit; the exhibition itself runs 8–11 December.
Where is it being held?
At the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai — the first edition away from the Dubai World Trade Centre in 45 years.
Why did GITEX move?
The organisers moved the show to Expo City with new December dates, aligning it with Dubai’s peak season and giving it room to grow beyond the DWTC footprint.
How big will it be?
Published expectations: more than 200,000 attendees from 180+ countries, around 6,800 exhibitors and 400+ government entities.
How much are tickets?
2026 pricing had not been published at the time of writing. Last edition’s visitor pass started around AED 580 — register at gitex.com to be notified when sales open.
How do I get to Expo City?
The Route 2020 metro extension on the Red Line serves Expo City directly; by road it sits on the Expo Road corridor near Al Maktoum International Airport.
Sources
Sources: GITEX GLOBAL official website (gitex.com) and the Dubai Media Office announcement of the move to Expo City Dubai, including the 7–11 December 2026 dates, the Dubai Exhibition Centre venue, and the published scale figures (200,000+ attendees, 180+ countries, 6,800 exhibitors, 400+ government entities); ticket pricing from the previous edition as reported by event guides — 2026 prices were not yet published at the time of writing. Event details can change; confirm on gitex.com before booking travel. This article is general information.
